EU Business Simplification
Daniel Calleja: EU aims for 48-hour online business creation across single market
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The European Commission wants entrepreneurs across the EU to be able to create a company online, in 48 hours, and for just €100 — no matter where in Europe they want to do business. Daniel Calleja, the Commission's top representative in Spain, confirmed the goal in a major interview with El Periódico, calling it a key part of the bloc's push to fix its fractured Single Market.
The plan, known as
The "EU Inc." Plan to Fix a Broken Single Market
Right now, a founder who wants to scale a business across the EU faces 27 different legal systems. Internal barriers act like a hidden tariff — Calleja puts the cost at roughly 41% on industry trade between member states, according to El Periódico. That makes competing with the US and China much harder.
The
Von der Leyen Under Fire for Centralizing Power
Calleja used the interview to defend Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Critics — including some EU commissioners and MEPs — say she runs Brussels like a "presidential model," sidelining colleagues and focusing too much on geopolitics over economic reform, according to Bloomberg.
Calleja pushed back. He framed Von der Leyen's style as necessary for "strategic autonomy" — a term the Commission uses for Europe's ability to act independently on big global challenges like Ukraine and energy. Her allies say the
EU's Gaza Stance Draws Criticism From Spain and Ireland
Calleja also addressed the EU's position on Gaza. He described it as balanced and grounded in international law. But Spain and Ireland have pushed for much stronger condemnation of Israel's actions, creating visible tension inside the bloc, according to El Periódico.
The EU's cautious tone has frustrated those who want a clearer stance. For Calleja, the Commission's role is to apply legal frameworks — not to take political sides. That argument has not fully satisfied critics in Madrid or Dublin.
Can the 48-Hour Promise Actually Be Delivered?
The 48-hour, €100 registration target sounds simple. But making it work means linking national business registers across all 27 countries. Commissioner for Startups Ekaterina Zaharieva is leading the technical side. Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath is handling the legal integration, according to research from Law Society.
Some experts are skeptical. Critics from Oxford Law argue the proposal is a "diluted version" of the original ambition. Venture capital analysts also worry it may not offer enough protection for investors in fast-growing companies. The European Parliament and Council need to finalize the law by end of 2026 — without watering it down further.
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